Global Commission tackles Internet governance.

PositionINTERNET - Global Commission on Internet Governance

International concern over the reports of mass online surveillance by the United States and some of its allies was a hot topic of discussion in January at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. In response, The Centre for International Governance Innovation and the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), two independent global think-tanks, announced the launch of the Global Commission on Internet Governance.

The 25-member group, chaired by Sweden's foreign minister, Carl Bildt, is undertaking a two-year investigation into the various ways governments use Internet data. Its goal is to produce "a comprehensive stand on the future of multistakeholder Internet governance."

"In most countries, increased attention is being given to all the issues of net freedom, net security, and net governance," said Bildt. "The rapid evolution of the net has been made possible by the open and flexible model by which it has evolved and been governed. But increasingly this is happening as issues of net freedom, net security, and net surveillance are increasingly debated. Net freedom is as fundamental as freedom of information and freedom of speech in our societies."

The commission will investigate a wide range of topics within four key themes:

  1. Enhancing governance legitimacy --including regulatory approaches and standards

  2. Preserving innovation--including critical Internet resources, infrastructure, and competition policy

  3. Ensuring rights...

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